DA PIZZA MAN'S BACKTRACKING ON HIS UTOPIAN TOWN VIEW

The AP is reporting that Dominos Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, who funded the building of Ava Maria University near Naples and is in a 50-50 partnership with developer Barron Collier Company to build a town surrounding the campus, is now saying he misspoke to a Boston Catholic men's group last year regarding his vision for the project.

He reportedly told the Boston group that the town, also to be called Ave Maria, would be run on strict Roman Catholic principles. As the Monaghan/Barron Collier partnership would control all commercial development in the town, businesses would be prohibited from selling any pornography or contraceptives, and that cable television would not carry any X-rated channels.

In an interview with the AP Friday, Monaghan said that his comments only applied to the university campus:

"I would say I just misspoke...The town will be open to anybody."

The Monaghan/Barron Collier partnership will, however, prohibit adult bookstores and topless clubs. And while it will not prohibit sales of adult magazines or contraceptives, it would "suggest" that businesses not offer such items.

According to BCC CEO Paul Marinelli:

"We are not going to censor any of that information, but in deference to Ave Maria University, we are going to request that they not sell that merchandise but we are not restricting...We are trying to create a town with traditional family values and a wholesome environment and that's why we are saying we will not allow adult bookstores, massage parlors or topless bars. "The misconception we're trying to clarify is that this is not going to be a strictly Catholic town ... I think it would be boring if in fact it was all Catholic."

Another Barron Collier executive, Blake Gable, said "We're not going to discriminate against anyone, whether it be religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation." He added that gays would be welcome, despite the Catholic Church's belief that homosexuality is a sin.

The Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union had threatened to challenge any restrictive cavaets in court.